Gambia's Tragic Child Deaths Spark Concern Over Indian Medicines

Suspicion Grows as Child Deaths Linked to Indian Medicines Raise Concerns  

In Gambia, Ebou Sanyang, a taxi driver, could only watch helplessly last September as his young son slowly succumbed to a mysterious illness.

According to Sanyang, his 3-year-old son, Lamin, developed a fever on a day nearing his kindergarten admission. Despite receiving prescribed cough syrup from the local clinic, Lamin refused to take the medicine, worsening his condition.

Recalling the ordeal, Sanyang, at his home in the capital, Banjul, said, "I had to force the cough syrup into his mouth."

In the subsequent days, Lamin's condition deteriorated further. He couldn't eat or urinate. Hospitalization revealed kidney problems, and after just 7 days, young Lamin passed away.

Lamin was one of about 70 Gambian children who died from acute kidney failure after consuming one of four cough syrups produced by India's "Maiden Pharmaceuticals" between July and October last year.

In October, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that toxic substances exceeding acceptable limits had been detected in the syrup, establishing a connection between the syrup and the children's deaths.

An investigative committee established by the Gambian parliament also concluded that the deaths of these children were due to consuming the implicated syrup.

However, both Maiden Pharmaceuticals and the Indian government denied these allegations. In December of the same year, the Indian government declared that the products adhered to quality standards based on their own inspections.

But Amadou Camara, chairman of Gambia's investigative committee, strongly rebuffed these claims, stating, "We have evidence. Ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol were found above the permissible limits in the drug that we tested." Both of these substances can be toxic if ingested by humans.

Gambia, one of Africa's smallest nations, heavily relies on pharmaceutical imports from India, making this situation particularly challenging for its citizens.

Some parents who lost their children in this tragedy now express doubts about trusting Indian pharmaceuticals.

Lamin Danso, who lost his 9-month-old son, stated, "I hardly touch any medication that is labeled 'Made in India'."

However, Gambia's reliance on Indian pharmaceuticals is unlikely to change swiftly.

According to journalist Mustapha Darboe, "Most [Gambian] pharmacists still get drugs from India because they are cheaper compared to the US or Europe."

India is the world's largest exporter of generic drugs, with many developing nations relying on Indian pharmaceuticals. Yet, allegations of fatal consequences linked to Indian-made medicines in countries like Gambia, Uzbekistan, and the US are raising doubts about India's pharmaceutical manufacturing practices and quality standards.

Udaya Bhaskar, chairman of the "Indian Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council," noted that while these incidents have "blemished" India's pharmaceutical image, they have had little impact on exports.

India's pharmaceutical exports reached $25.4 billion by March this year, with African countries accounting for $3.6 billion of that. Bhaskar emphasized that India's pharmaceutical industry has already exported over $6 billion worth of drugs in the first quarter alone.

Nevertheless, Indian authorities have implemented measures, including mandatory submission of cough syrup samples to government-approved labs for inspection before export. Even Gambia, without its own testing facilities, has mandated inspections for Indian pharmaceuticals.

Additionally, the Indian government requires pharmaceutical companies to comply with WHO's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards within a specified timeframe. However, some Indian activists have criticized the dual standard of the country's pharmaceutical manufacturing and management practices.

Dinesh Thakur, a public health activist in India, pointed out the differing standards for pharmaceutical exports to the US and Europe versus less regulated countries.

Nonetheless, Bhaskar refuted these claims, arguing that several African nations, including many within Gambia's region, also maintain stringent regulatory systems.

In the aftermath of this tragedy, a government report recommended establishing a quality control research institute in Gambia's healthcare system. Two officials responsible for drug regulation were dismissed, and lawmakers expressed their awareness of citizens' anger and grief.

However, devastated parents assert that Gambia's healthcare situation has remained unchanged over the past year. The healthcare system struggled to cope with rising fever cases, prompting some parents to raise funds to send their children to neighboring Senegal for treatment.

Mamadou Dambélé and his wife are among them. When they last saw their 22-month-old daughter Aminata, she lay weakly in a hospital bed.

Dambélé said, "She could only move her head," and added, "I kept telling her that her daddy was here." But shortly after a video call, Aminata passed away.

Ebou Sidi, spokesperson for a group of victim parents, stressed the need for justice. Presently, parents of 19 victims have filed a lawsuit against both local health authorities and Maiden Pharmaceuticals in Gambia's high court. They're also considering pursuing international legal action if necessary.

Sanyang, who took part in the lawsuit, highlighted the government's negligence, stating, "The complacency of the Gambian government has led to the deaths of these kids."

As a year passes since the tragedy, many parents are determined to take definitive action to prevent further suffering for Gambian families.